Newsletter 2005-09-02

NEXT STOP: ISTANBUL PARK
The FIA World Touring Car Championship's 15th and 16th rounds will take place on 18TH
September in Turkey. This will be the second event ever hosted by the brand new
Istanbul Park, that was inaugurated only two weeks ago...

NEXT STOP: ISTANBUL PARK

The FIA World Touring Car Championship's 15th and 16th rounds will take place on 18TH
September in Turkey. This will be the second event ever hosted by the brand new
Istanbul Park, that was inaugurated only two weeks ago with the Formula One Turkish
Grand Prix.

The championship arrives in Turkey with the title fight wide open.2004 FIA European
Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx broke his duck in Oschersleben, claiming his first
victory of the year. This, together with his second place in Race 2, enabled him to close
in on Dirk Muller. The two of them are separated by only one point in the Drivers'
Championship. However, despite not scoring in the German weekend, Alfa Romeo's
leading man Fabrizio Giovanardi remains within striking distance, 12 points from the
lead. With 20 points to be awarded in the Turkish meeting, four other drivers have good
chances for reducing their gaps: Jorg Muller (24 points behind), Gabriele Tarquini,
Rickard Rydell and Antonio Garcia who are all an equal further two points adrift.

Victories in Oschersleben for Priaulx and Alessandro Zanardi were a further evidence of
how balanced the championship is, making nine different winners in the 14 races held
so far.

HELSINKI AND BRANDS HATCH ARE IN THE FRAME

Two new racetracks are in the frame to host FIA WTCC rounds in 2006: Helsinki and
Brands Hatch. "We had a meeting in Oschersleben with Jarno Mahonen, managing
director of the WRC round Neste Rally Finland, who is working on a plan to establish a
racetrack in the streets of Helsinki. At the moment he is waiting for the authorisation
from the local Government. If this arrives in time to include Helsinki in the calendar that
has to be submitted to the FIA, we'll race there in 2006. Otherwise it will be postponed
to 2007," explained Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO. As for Brands Hatch, KSO
have already had several meetings with circuit owner Jonathan Palmer. "Negotiations
are going on, and I should say that we are getting closer and closer to signing a deal
to move our British round to Brands Hatch Grand Prix," said Lotti.

THE MAN OF THE WEEK: ANDY PRIAULX

Since he joined the series in 2003, Andy Priaulx has been in contention for the drivers'
championship. Last year he became the FIA European Touring Car champion and BMW
Motorsport rewarded him by making him their third works driver along with the Mullers.
As well as racing, Andy is a mentor for the young drivers in Formula BMW UK.

What is the key to your consistency? "It's a real mixture of elements. I always work the
same way with the team whether it's a good or bad day, I have stability in my home life
and I have learned a lot coming through other series. The new BMW 320i is also a
factor. Things have often been tough but I have always managed to continue and
improve because the combination of these things works for me."

What does your role with Formula BMW involve? "I am a general mentor really. I teach
the lads to drive like I would and to adopt an effective working method. When things
aren't going well and they need some advice I am there to help, as well as pointing out
when they have succeeded and why it happened. It is rewarding seeing them progress
and it is important for me to put something back into motorsport."

This is your third season in the FIA Championship; in 2003 you fought for the European
title until the end, last year you won it at the final race. Will you succeed in becoming
World champion? "I am feeling really positive for the remainder of the season. However,
the fight is still wide open and I'm not ruling out an Alfa Romeo challenge, because
Valencia will suit their cars much better than ours, and they might catch up."

FLASH NEWS

TELEVISION 1: Turkish terrestrial channel TV8 broadcast live the FIA WTCC races from
Oschersleben. TV8 will broadcast live again from Istanbul, Valencia and Macau.

TELEVISION 2: For the first time the FIA WTCC was aired live on two major terrestrial
channels in Germany and Spain. From Oschersleben, ZDF (Germany) broadcast live for
two hours, while TVE2 (Spain) for 30 minutes. TVE2 will also broadcast live from
Valencia, on October 2.

TELEVISION 3: Eurosport, in close collaboration with the promoter of the LG Race of
Mexico, signed a new broadcasting agreement with Fox Sport Latin America and Speed
Panam. These two pan-regional cable platforms will broadcast all the remaining races of
season on a delayed basis.

THEY SAID: QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Alessandro Zanardi after his victory in Oschersleben: "We've finally found a set-up that
works for my driving. On the slowing down lap I was already thinking about the next race
in Turkey and what we found out in the set-up. But I'm old enough to tell my mind to
enjoy the experience tonight."